Keepers have named the young male sloth Edward after Johnny Depp’s famous character, Edward Scissorhands, due to his impressive claws - which will grow up to four inches in length and enable him to cling on and climb easily through the tree-top branches of his Rainforest Life home.

The Reptile House you can visit at ZSL London Zoo today was built in 1926. It was erected on the site of the Ape House, and two other Reptile Houses had existed previously, the first erected in 1849 (before ZSL London Zoo had even opened to the public) and the second in 1882.

The bulding itself was desiged by Dr Joan Beauchamp Procter, Curator of Reptiles, with the architect Sir Edward Guy Dawber. The reptile sculptures at the entrance to the building are by the sculptur George Alexander. At the time, the building was hailed as one of the most sophisticated building of its type in the world.

Among other key features, the Reptile House has differentiated heating to provide "hot spots" for the reptiles and "aquarium principle" lighting which means the visitors walk around in relative darkness and lighting highlights the animals in their environments.

A famous scene from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was filmed in the Reptile House in November 2001. In the scene, a burmese python speaks to Harry Potter, played by Daniel Radcliffe for the first time. In fact, the enclosure filmed is actually home to our black mamba.

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The new and improved amphibian exhibit focuses on the evolution of amphibians; their astounding diversity and adaptability; the threats they face in the wild; and how ZSL is working to conserve them.

From lungfish and mudskippers, to worm-like caecilians, fascinating newts and charismatic tree frogs, the new Amphibian Wing shows how varied amphibians can be.

The ‘conservation in action’ lab allows visitors to engage with ZSL zookeepers and scientists who are conducting research for Mallorcan midwife toads, Sardinian brook salamanders and Alpine newts to investigate the effects of the deadly Chytridiomycosis disease in these species. This research is imperative to developing techniques and treatments for use in the field to help save wild populations of amphibians from the imminent risk of extinction.

Early amphibians

Early amphibians evolved from fish who used fins like legs...

375 million years ago, long before the dinosaurs, the ancestors of amphibians developed from fish that used their fins like legs to walk along the sea bed.

First creatures to walk on four legs on land were amphibians...

These ancient amphibians were the first animals to walk on four legs on land. They adapted to many different environments, and evolved into the predecessors of most land-dwelling creatures, including the dinosaurs.

Our hands and feet evolved from same bone structures as amphibians...

As they share a common ancestor, today's amphibians are surprisingly similar to other types of land animals.

Aquatic and terrestrial lifestyle...

The word 'amphibians' means 'two lives'. As many live mainly on land but need water in which to breed and raise tadpoles, they really do lead a double life.

Illustrations of what some prehistoric amphibians may have looked like: